Mr President,
ladies and gentlemen, I thank you for giving me the great honour
and the deep personal pleasure of addressing this Parliamentary
Assembly, the tradition and practice of which reflect the faith
of our peoples in greater European unity and its members’ commitment
to that noble ideal.

As I listened to your generous words of welcome to me, Mr President,
I felt grateful indeed. My presence here today to address the oldest
of the European political institutions rekindles for me very happy
memories of earlier visits which I made.

I am very conscious of the honour which you, Mr President,
and the Assembly have conferred upon me by your invitation. It is
an honour which, I assure you, is deeply appreciated by my country.
In accepting your invitation I was eager to emphasise Ireland’s
deep attachment to the ideals of the Council of Europe and to emphasise my
country’s and my own personal commitment to the goal of European
unity.

My visit, therefore, is a great personal pleasure and is renewed
evidence, if such were needed, of the high esteem in which the Council
of Europe is held by the Government and people of Ireland.

I take this opportunity of extending a special greeting to
the distinguished Secretary General to whom as it begins I offer
my best wishes for a successful and fruitful term of office. I am
confident that his idealism and his great personal talents will
give a new impetus and dynamism to the activities of the Council.

Ireland has been an active member of the Council of Europe
since the organisation’s creation in 1949. It is proud of the fact
that from the beginning it joined with other member states, which
were moved by the same vigorous commitment to European unity, in
wholehearted pursuit of the objectives enshrined in the Council’s statute.
It is significant that the founding members sought inspiration in
the ancient roots of European culture and in the European heritage
of shared spiritual and moral values. Their realism and their vision
are expressed in the direct, precise language of the Statute. At
the centre of the activities of this organisation—the first political offspring
of the European movement—they put the protection of human rights
and fundamental freedoms. The European concept of the dignity of
man is thus essentially related to that moral centre of gravity
in which the Council is firmly anchored.

It is not surprising, therefore, that the Council’s first
convention was the European Convention on Human Rights, which came
into force thirty-one years ago. In an age when we have become accustomed
to delays before a convention is ratified and implemented, it is
significant to recall the speed with which the European Convention
on Human Rights, the Council’s masterpiece, was drafted, ratified
and implemented.

The clear-sighted realism which inspired the minds of the
drafters of the convention was given eloquent expression in the
machinery devised for its implementation—the European Court of Human
Rights and the European Commission of Human Rights, as well as the
Committee of Ministers acting as an organ of the convention. This
machinery safeguards human rights in a most effective manner. Its
effectiveness is a tribute to the Council of Europe and to its mission
to protect human rights.

Much has been written about the protection provided for the
individual against states, including his or her own state. It is
scarcely an exaggeration to claim that, while the European Convention
on Human Rights has been resorted to by thousands, it has affected
the daily lives of millions. This result has arisen not solely from
the inherent potential of the convention but also because in practice
laws in member states have had to be adjusted to the requirements
of the convention as applied by its organs. This, I need not emphasise,
is a process which is of universal significance.

The individual right of petition is without doubt of great
significance in heightening public awareness of the Council’s human
rights system. This awareness, in turn, has contributed generously
to the effectiveness of the system. Nor are the positive effects
of that system confined to the legal and social fields. There are
also significant political consequences. Individual citizens, or
minority groups, who believe that their basic human rights are denied
or eroded by deficiencies in political institutions can take courage
from the fact that these rights are internationally guaranteed and
protected.

I recall with pride that Ireland was among the countries which
accepted at the outset, and without limitation of time, the right
of individual petition and the jurisdiction of the Court. I am glad
to note that, far from being complacent as a result of what has
been achieved to date, the Council is making progress in its deliberations on
means of improving and strengthening the system and speeding up
procedures in dealing with applications.

I would like to pay tribute to the Council’s contribution
over the past twenty years to social progress in member states through
the European Social Charter and its associated treaties, including
the European Code of Social Security. If the Social Charter is now
generally regarded as the Council’s second most important convention, it
is, I think, a measure of the deep desire which exists in Europe
for a society which is socially just, as well as being economically
integrated.

The Parliamentary Assembly, no less than the Committee of
Ministers, can take justifiable pride in providing the creative
drive which resulted in the formulation and drafting of the two
major instruments of the Council for the promotion and protection
of human rights. The Assembly, to its credit, has never been content
to rest on its laurels in a mood of self-congratulation on past
achievements. Over the years, mindful always of your mission, you
have continued your efforts to promote human rights throughout our
continent and to adjust their protection to any new dangers which
may threaten to erode them. This unfailing vigilance is of special importance
in an age of rapid transformation in European society. It is equally
encouraging to see that the Committee of Ministers continues its
efforts more vigorously than ever to ensure that the values and
ideals enshrined in the Council’s statute are promoted and realised.

The highlighting of the concept of human rights in the field
of international relations has been one of the most significant
developments in international politics during the past forty years.
It has been, as I mentioned earlier, one of the greatest achievements
of the Council of Europe and its member states to have the interest
of the individual, even in relation to his or her own government,
accepted as a legitimate and significant matter of international
concern. It is an achievement which has had major consequences for
relations between states.

If I have spoken at some length about the Council’s achievements
in the realm of human rights and fundamental freedoms, it is because
I am convinced that the Council first proclaimed its vocation and established
its identity on the international scene in this area. It was manifest
from the very beginning that the Council was not content with a
statute. At a very early date it established institutions as well,
and these institutions have become closely identified among people
far and wide with the basic principles which inspire all of the
Council’s activities.

It is no surprise that the Council of Europe, which required
its member states to accept the principles of the rule of law and
of the right of enjoyment by all of human rights and fundamental
freedoms, should attach such importance to co-operation in legal
affairs. In this field the Council’s achievements are indeed considerable. Substantial
progress has been made in the development of international law.
The progressive approximation or harmonisation of the legislation
and legislative policies of member states in areas of common interest
has been steadily pursued. The noteworthy advances made in this
field are clearly visible in the many conventions dealing with such
diverse and complex subjects as data protection, legal aid, migrant
workers, extradition and many other agreements.

It is encouraging to see countries of such different legal
traditions engaged in such fruitful cooperation. Is this not an
area where close cooperation between the European Community and
the Council is necessary? The need for such cooperation was made
clear in the relevant section of the Solemn Declaration on European Union
issued in Stuttgart last year. In that perspective, the possibility
of accession by the Community to certain conventions of the Council
would appear to be worth exploring.

Mr President, I have already spoken of the Council’s ability
to respond to the needs and aspirations of our peoples. Ever since
the adoption of the European Cultural Convention thirty years ago
that ability has been evident in the fields of education and culture.
Indeed I had the opportunity, while Minister for Education, of obtaining
first-hand knowledge and experience of this ability. There is no
need for me to review before this Assembly, which has so often been
the stimulating force behind bold initiatives in that sector, the
Council’s very considerable and enduring achievements in the cultural
field.

We draw lessons and inspiration from the past, we live in
the present, we must prepare for the future as we scan the horizon
of the year 2000. As we turn our faces towards that horizon, the
adoption of the European Declaration on Cultural Objectives at the
recent Conference in Berlin of European Ministers responsible for Cultural
Affairs is to be warmly welcomed. The adoption of this important
declaration is renewed evidence of the Council’s timely response
to current aspirations and realities by setting out, as a first
step, guidelines for future action. It is a declaration which will,
I am confident, provide a fruitful basis for collective reflection
and action in the future.

We must never underestimate the strength of the impetus which
the cultural forces and shared values of Europe can give to the
endeavours of all European institutions towards the goal of closer
European unity. We need, especially in support of these endeavours,
projects that will promote, particularly among our young people,
a greater sense of our European identity. There is room here for
fruitful cooperation between the European Communities, which have
economic and social responsibilities towards the cultural sector,
and the Council of Europe, which has cultural development among
its prime objectives.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the areas of cooperation
to which I have made brief reference illustrate the value of the
Council’s specific contribution to the pursuit of the great goal
of closer unity among Europeans. That is a goal which is shared
by all of us here in the Council of Europe.

I am happy to see that relations between the European Communities
and the Council of Europe stand on such firm foundations and that
mutual co-operation, pursued in a spirit of complementarity, has
produced positive, tangible results. It is logical, in view of the
different structures and procedures of the Communities and the Council
that complementarity should characterise co-operation between them.
Nobody would deny that the avoidance of competition and duplication
is to the benefit of Europe as a whole. This calls for a constant exchange
of information between Brussels and Strasbourg, particularly at
inter-Secretariat level. Member states must always have a wholehearted
interest in ensuring that the best use is always made of available resources
in the cause of the overall objective of European unity.

The designation of 1985 by the Council and the Communities
as European Music Year to celebrate the tercentenary of the birth
of three great composers, Bach, Handel and Scarlatti, is to me an
impressive example of fruitful cooperation between Brussels and
Strasbourg. I commend the enthusiasm of this Assembly in playing such
a very active and constructive part in bringing this project to
fruition. Apart from emphasising the common cultural heritage of
Europe, of which music is such a rich part, this joint project,
which has been very warmly welcomed in Ireland, must bring in its
train many practical benefits in the form of more and better opportunities, and
improved conditions for young composers and performers.

I hope that we are destined to see further laudable initiatives
of this kind, and that all of them will be inspired by a warm sensitivity
to the needs and aspirations of young people. Such initiatives cannot
but help to deepen our appreciation of our common heritage and strengthen
the sense of our European identity.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, my conversations here
today have given me fresh insights into your work. I know, too,
that you have been giving a good deal of thought, both in the Assembly
and in the Committee of Ministers, to the future role of the Council.
I think that, bearing in mind the point which we have reached in
our progress towards European unity, you have chosen an opportune
time for reflection about the future. Indeed, the reports to the
Assembly of Mr Lied and Mr van Eekelen contain many thoughtful and
stimulating ideas and suggestions in relation to your future role.

In the light of the main features of the sectors which I have
already mentioned it seems to me that the guidelines for a broad
framework of future work may be discerned in your achievements to
date. Your identity is firmly established as regards democracy,
human rights and the rule of law. Your work has, in the main, focused
on the individual in society, with the emphasis on the individual’s
human dignity. Emphasis may change with altered circumstances, but
I believe that there will always be a need in Europe for development
and continuation of the work which the Council is now carrying on
so effectively.

Perhaps the potential of this unique forum for democratic
Europe has not been fully appreciated. In the Committee of Ministers
a like-minded approach, based on shared values and common principles,
can help to reconcile varying interests and attitudes of countries
belonging to different groups. This is especially true in relation
to foreign policy issues. Just as Europe’s historic identity has
always been characterised by an outward-looking attitude to the
wider world, so, I believe, the democratic countries here represented
are steadily developing a greater sense of European unity by adopting
common responses to shared perceptions of issues and challenges
which affect us all.

Coming here again after an absence of some years, I have noticed
a considerable development of political discussions in the Committee
of Ministers. Looking at the subjects which are now on the agenda
for such discussions—among them European co-operation, East-West
relations, human rights and other issues arising at the United Nations,
North-South questions, and so on—one can see the extent to which
political dialogue has progressed in recent years, and at the same
time discern the outlines of its potential for further extension. In
that perspective I see no conflict between the intensification and
co-ordination of political co-operation among the Ten—soon to be
the Twelve—and the development of greater cohesion among the Twenty-one here
in the Council of Europe.

The Parliamentary Assembly, of course, provides the most broadly-based
forum for political dialogue in democratic Europe. The vision of
the Council’s founders in providing this important democratic dimension
to intergovernmental cooperation has been well rewarded. Representing
the voice of public opinion in Europe, the Assembly’s opinions and
recommendations enhance the value of the Council’s executive decisions.
It is unnecessary to say that the intergovernmental deliberations
leading to the taking of such decisions should be accompanied by
a sensitivity to as wide a range of opinion as possible. On many
occasions this internal dialogue of the Assembly—if I may so describe
it—has provided the inspiration and vigour for some of the greatest
achievements of the Council at intergovernmental level. I am convinced
that there exists a continuing need for this sharing of ideas and
experience among European parliamentarians.

The sense of European identity which we feel when we discuss
matters in this Assembly should reflect understanding of other peoples
and other cultures. Abundant evidence of that awareness of others
is manifested in your deliberations on current major issues of international
concern. The central place you assign to human dignity and freedom
is very much in evidence in your discussions of East-West relations
and the Helsinki Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe
process. Once again, the Council has played a valuable role in enabling
member countries to find instinctive common ground while gaining
a closer knowledge of one another’s attitudes.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the challenges to democracy
are increasing in range and complexity. I congratulate you on your
deliberations in which you have dealt with such issues as terrorism,
extremism, intolerance and social disparities. May I also congratulate
you on holding the first Strasbourg Conference on Parliamentary
Democracy, thus providing an enlarged forum for the discussion of
all these challenges. Democracy is vulnerable to attack from many
sources, so there will be a continuing need for these conferences and
deliberations.

In a world where rapid scientific and technological changes
have such profound effects on the sociological and cultural fabric
of our countries, it is essential that parliamentarians exchange
ideas and experiences in the evaluation of the consequences of such
changes. There is no more appropriate forum for such exchanges than the
Council of Europe, which can act as a laboratory of ideas as we
prepare to respond to new challenges.

Members of the Assembly, I know, share my deep concern at
the tragic situation in Northern Ireland. For more than fifteen
years, violence has brought death, injuries and destruction of property
on a large scale to its people. The situation that exists there
can and must be ended. The search for a peaceful solution to the
conflict must continue. In my country that search is accorded the
highest priority and led in May of this year to the publication of
the report of the New Ireland Forum.

The Forum had been established a year earlier to consult on
the manner in which lasting peace and stability could be achieved
in a new Ireland through the democratic process, and to report on
possible new structures and processes by which this objective might
be attained. Participating in the Forum were the four main constitutional
nationalist parties in Ireland, from both North and South. These
together represent 90% of the nationalist population and almost
three quarters of the population of the whole island. Representatives
of the Unionist parties in Northern Ireland, although invited to
participate in the work of the Forum, declined to attend. The Forum
did, however, benefit from the contributions of individual Unionists
and of churchmen representative of the majority Protestant tradition
in Northern Ireland.

The final report of the New Ireland Forum is generally regarded
as the single most important statement of constitutional nationalist
opinion for many years and as providing the opportunity for a new
approach by the Irish and British Governments to the task of finding
a peaceful solution to the conflict in Northern Ireland. In a preliminary
response, the British Government have welcomed major elements of
the report. A considered response from the British Government is
now awaited.

I know that members of this Assembly will share my hope that
on the basis of these exchanges the Irish and British Governments
together will find an early and lasting solution to the problem
of Northern Ireland. The Assembly itself is, I know, aware of this
problem and I look forward to the outcome of its deliberations.
This, I feel sure, will provide a useful and positive contribution
to the efforts of the Irish and British Governments in their search
for just and lasting peace in Northern Ireland, a peace based on
reconciliation between the two traditions in Ireland.

It is unnecessary for me to point out to this Assembly the
political implications of the unemployment which is now widespread
in Europe, particularly among young people. It is important that
the idealism of youth should not be undermined by despair or disillusionment.
That idealism with which all youth is blessed should be encouraged
and supported in a positive and forward-looking manner.

Young people must be taken into our confidence as we grapple
with the problems which confront our world. They must be given the
opportunity of seeing the full complexity of the problems and of
bringing their vision to the efforts which are being made to overcome
them. Your invitation to young people from all over Europe to come
here a few months ago to discuss major problems was an admirable
way of celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Council of Europe.
It was an initiative which complemented the valuable work already
being done for youth by the Council and clearly underlined your
sense of urgency. I am confident that the Conference of Ministers
responsible for Youth to be held next year will give added impetus
to your work in this field.

The citizens of Europe, and especially its young people, must
be involved in the shaping of their own destiny. You, the democratically
elected representatives of the people, have a constructive role
to play in winning the understanding and support of all our citizens
for policies aimed at the realisation of their aspirations. As members
of national parliaments, you have a unique opportunity to make European
co-operation better known and understood. I am confident that, inspired
by the same vision and courage which launched the Council thirty-five
years ago, this Assembly will make an enduring contribution to the
work which lies ahead as we face the future with confidence.